Ron Paul: "Why I Don't Run As An Independent"

Many have wondered if Ron Paul would have run as an independent. Here is his answer: "[I didn't consider running as an independent because] it is absolutely not practical. This would have been a good year to have an alternative and you can't get much of a showing either on the libertarian side or the green side".... the Republican and Democratics "parties are going to linger because they are locked in by law. The laws are biased against us from competing." So how does one change the two-party system? "You go to the campuses. You rally the young people. You stir up a whole generation of people. Ideas do have consequences and that's where the good news is because the campuses are alive and well with these views and they know the system is bankrupt. And there is this illusion that you can spend endlessly and print endlessly and there will always be credit out there. And so far, so good, but credit can end quickly, the dollar can crash quickly and a new system will have to be developed."

And some parting words on one of Ron Paul's favorite topics: Freedom, or at least the myth thereof:

"The concern about freedom was lost because Freedom creates so much prosperity. People get complacent, then they become materialistic. They find the government: you can make more money by getting a contract from government, than being a genius and being productive. When I first came here in 1976 I was under the impression that if you talk about welfare you talk about those people who won't work and get foodstamps. But have a completely different opinion now: that exists and it's not healthy, but that's minor compared to the "foodstamps" the wealthy get. The wealthy get the contracts and the special deals and that's where the biggest turmoil is." On the future of the Republican and Democrat party: "the parties are going to linger because they are locked in by law. The laws are biased against us from competing.